Bunion-rectifier.



W. M. SGHOLL. BUNION RECTIFIER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1911.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

a in w WILLIAM M. SGI-IQLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUNION-BECTIFIER.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Application filed July 31, 1911.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Serial No. 641,557.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. SoHoLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bunion-Rectifiers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bunion rectifiers or devicesadapted to be worn in the shoe to restore the foot to normal healthycondition.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device which maysimultaneously tend to remove the cause of the bunion and aid in curingthe aflection already developed.

More particularly, my invention contemplates the provision of a singledevice which may be worn in the shoe and which is so constructed thatthe relatively displaced metatarsal and phalangeal bones of the greattoe may be returned to normal condition and that the removal of swellingof the bursa, or of a false bursa, at the point of articulation of saidbones, may be efitected by the synergistic action of a close-fittingrubber shield, in which the sweat and heat from the foot shall beconfined in the locality of the bunion. Thus, by a combined pressure ofthe phalangeal bone to correct position and a healing of presentaffection, my invention effects complete removal of the bunion.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown an advantageous embodiment of myinvention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section taken through the center of the device, showing indotted lines the first metatarsal and phalangeal bones of the foot; andFig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the complete device adapted to be made in anintegral structure of rubber, or like substance, by molding. In suchillustrated construction, 5 indicates in general a resilientwedge'shaped insert to lie between the first or great toe and the secondtoe, 6 indicates in general the bunion shield to overlie the bunion andsurrounding portion of the foot, and 7 indicates a shank or connectingportion which unites the toe insert 5 and shield 6 so that each holdsthe other in place with the affected joint effectively positionedtherebetween, and the flexible shank thereunder.

Specifically, the toe insert or wedge member 5, constituting thepressure-applying member for pressing the great toe outwardly toward itscorrect position, comprises a vertical, longitudinally elongated, columnstructure 8, preferably hollow for greater resiliency, and having itsforward end 9 wider than its rear end 10, thus permitting the insert tolie comfortably between the great and second toes and yet to applyefl'ective outward pressure upon the great toe near the extremitythereof. Extending outwardly from the column portion 8, at its top andbottom, are relatively thin flanges 11 and 12, respectively, lying inhorizontal planes and of an elongated shape corresponding to theelongated shape of the column 8, such flanges, when the device isapplied to the foot, lying respectively over and under the adjacentgreat and second toes.

As shown in Fig. 2, the connecting shank 'FeXtends out laterally fromthe lower flange 12, and merges at its other end into the end of thebunion shield, to be described, such shank being relatively thin tounderlie the great toe, but of suflicient strength to hold the partstogether and perform its intended functions.

The bunion shield 6 extends rearwardly from its point of connection tothe shank 7, and as shown in Fig. 3, stands generally vertical, or atsubstantial right angles to the shank 7. In structure, the shieldprovides a uniformly curved outer surface 13 to conform to the innersurface of the shoe, and an inner surface shaped to conform to the outerfleshy surface of the foot at the point of and surrounding the bunionand to lie in close contact with the surface of the foot, so that theretention of sweat and heat from the foot may act to aid in reducing theswollen joint. Such inner surface, as shown in the longitudinal sectionof Fig. 2, comprises the opposite inner, curved surfaces 1 1 and 15,meeting the outer surface 13 at the ends of the shield to form thinedges, as at 16-16, and merging together at the center to form a pocketinto which the bunion shall snugly fit; and as shown in the verticalsection of Fig. 3, the curved surfaces 1 1 and 15 (15 only being visiblein the figure) are curved inwardly along the longitudinal center of theshield, the longitudinal curves shown in Fig. 2 and the vertical curvesshown in Fig. 3 forming a composite curvature for intimate contact alongthe outer surface of the foot. Thus, it will be seen that the bunionlies in the pocket 17, and that the synergistic effect of the rubbershield which overlies the bunion and surrounding fieshy surface greatlyenhances the effectiveness of the device in returning the foot tohealthy condition, for not only does the action of the toe-insert 5 topress the phalangeal bones out toward proper position reduce thelikelihood of increased growth of the bunion, but the action of theshield to reduce the affection already developed renders the action ofthe insert more effective, by taking down the swelling, so that the twomutually aid each other and hasten the cure.

Structurally, the device is advantageous in that the engagement of theinsert between the toes acts to hold the shield in position over thebunion and vice versa, so that there is no danger of displacement ofeither member, and each member is held in more eifective contact by therubber shank, the shield being pulled inwardly upon the bunion and theinsert outwardly against the displaced toe.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

As an article of manufacture,- a bunion rectifier comprising, in anintegral rubber structure, a hollow upright toe spreading post ovate inhorizontal section with its sides converging toward their rear portions,said post having horizontal top and bottom flanges; a longitudinallyextended bunion.

shield, shaped to form a bunion pocket to overlie a bunion, having anuninterrupted interior surface, forming the inside of a continuous wall,and having its continuous Wall very thin over the crest of the bunionpocket, thin throughout the portions from the crest of said pocket tothe contiguous side walls, and thickened in front of and in rear of thepocket, and a shank 7, connecting the lower edge of the thickened frontportion to the base of the .toe spreader, whereby the separated post andfront thickened portion of the guard may receive the toe therebetween,mutually to position each other, and the thinness of the wall in a linetransverse to the bunion-pocket-crest may permit fiexion of the guard toretain the es tablished relation of the spreader and front portion ofthe guard, without disturbing the relation of the front and rearthickened portions of said guard to the foot.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

In the presence of-- Fomin BAIN, MARY F. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G.

